The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Billionaire Warren Buffett took full ownership of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad yesterday, calling his move "a bet on the country." Some say it's a bet on coal and against clean energy.

November 4 - Streetsblog

It is now official: the new Massachusetts Department of Transportation will be the singular transportation and transit agency for the entire state. With the swearing in of its five-member board, the agency can begin its work.

November 4 - The Boston Herald

Puerto Rico seems to be at the head of the pack in terms of jobs created by the federal stimulus bill. But the news isn't all sunny from the island territory, as the governor moves to slash thousands of public sector jobs.

November 4 - Christian Science Monitor

A new Gallup poll asks respondents whether they'd expect a lost wallet to be returned. The results indicate that trust in neighbors and well-being go hand-in-hand.

November 4 - Gallup

Homeless people may avoid seeking help or services because there is a lack of space secure their belongings in shelters. The death of a homeless woman in Vancouver last winter highlights the severity of the problem.

November 4 - The Globe and Mail

The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that will allow owners of single family homes to construct additional cottage-like housing units on their property.

November 4 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a test on three different types of porous pavement to devise ways to control runoff from parking lots and streets.

November 4 - Scientific American

The Canadian Urban Institute presented its yearly 'Brownie' awards last week, honoring the best brownfield redevelopment projects in the nation.

November 4 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

BLOG POST

<p> For those who either have been wondering about, or not regularly following, the private life and times of your correspondent, I believe some sort of explanation is in order for what appears to have been my abrupt and complete disappearance off the face of the Earth.  No, I did not get hit by an electric bus.  No, there were no sinkholes in my proverbial bike lane.  No, I didn&#39;t fatally discover an improperly phased pedestrian “Don&#39;t Walk” message on a recent signal timing field test.  In fact, I have not disappeared from the face of any planet; rather, I have been devoured by the political wranglings and machinations of a very complex and tumultuous mayoral campaign in my fantastic hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey.  More importantly, one week after being <a href="http://hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_stories_home/push?article--Hoboken+Mayor+Zimmer+hires+Ian+Sacs+to+head+Parking+Utility-+Corea+can+return+to+City+Hall+at+lower+salary-%20&amp;id=3510818--Hoboken+Mayor+Zimmer+hires+Ian+Sacs+to+head+Parking+Utility-+Corea+can+return+to+City+Hall+at+lower+salary-&amp;instance=up_to_the_minute_lead_story_left_column">appointed Provisional Director</a> of the Hoboken Parking Utility, my wife gave birth to a wonderful boy.  But – sniff – I did miss you! </p>

November 4 - Ian Sacs

The Legatum Institute, a London think tank, has published a report ranking countries in terms of prosperity. The U.S. took a big hit for health care.

November 3 - Foreign Policy

Architect Bill Bickford would like to turn Chicago's historic Three Arts Club into a columbarium, or building to house cremated remains. The former dormitory for women artists is revered by preservationists, but hasn't been in use since 2003.

November 3 - Chicago Business

Bologna, Italy is getting a new monorail to connect the city with the airport, powered by photovoltaic panels built into the infrastructure.

November 3 - Inhabitat

The Feds have given the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) $151 million to look at some highly unusual ways of creating energy. Are they so crazy they just might work -- or just plain crazy?

November 3 - The Christian Science Monitor

This piece from <em>The New York Times</em> looks at the role of private gardens and public-facing landscaping in the city of Baghdad.

November 3 - The New York Times

<em>The Architect's Newspaper</em> reports on the first demolition of a historic building on the Walter Gropius-designed Michael Reese hospital campus in Chicago, the proposed site of now-ditched plans for an Olympic Village.

November 3 - The Architect's Newspaper

The ongoing trial of a California driver who allegedly injured two cyclists on purpose has become a rallying point for cyclists around the country, who are hoping the verdict elicits greater respect to cyclists from motorists.

November 3 - Los Angeles Times

A recent study of health insurance costs finds that people who live in suburban areas outside of Chicago pay less for health insurance than those who live in the urban core.

November 3 - Chicago Sun-Times

Residents in Vancouver are reportedly in favor of keeping a dedicated lane for pedestrians and cyclists on a local bridge. Even some motorists are in support.

November 3 - The Vancouver Sun

The motherlode of wind energy up, up in the air, say scientists. A handful of new technologies are being developed to harvest it at the source, roughly six miles up.

November 3 - Miller-McCune

BLOG POST

<p> &quot;Don&#39;t Bogart That Joint, My Friend&quot; </p> <p> Lyrics: <em>Lawrence</em><em> Wagner</em><br /> Music: <em>Elliot Ingber</em> </p> <p> <em>(on the soundtrack of &quot;Easy Rider&quot;) </em> </p> <p> <em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Chorus</span></em><br /> Don&#39;t bogart that joint my friend<br /> Pass it over to me<br /> Don&#39;t bogart that joint my friend<br /> Pass it over to me </p> <p> Roll another one<br /> Just like the other one<br /> You&#39;ve been holding on to it<br /> And I sure will like a hit </p> <p> [<em>chorus</em>] </p> <p> Roll another one<br /> Just like the other one<br /> That one&#39;s burned to the end<br /> Come on and be a real friend </p> <p> [<em>chorus</em>] </p> <p> Marijuana is prescribed for certain medical conditions, such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation. Since 1996, <a href="http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/54">at least 13 states have legalized</a> the sale of medical marijuana. </p> <p> Now, check your zoning regulations and see what districts allow this land use: &quot;Retail Sales – Medical Marijuana.&quot; Couldn’t find it, right? </p>

November 2 - Dwight Merriam